But will there be pie? GM Hmm's Tengus and Tomes (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

"Was that the best you could come up with?" Stali asks the orc near him. Then he tries to tumble past him.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 vs. CMD +5, unlikely to be enough, take the AoO if he still has a weapon

Failing to find an opening, he just strikes at the orc.

Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, Inspire + flag: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23
Damage, inspire + flag: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

Hikaru slashes the giggling red orc, who thinks this is hilarious!

Sarano disarms the Blue orc, sending his axe flying! “Jeg HADER magikere!” He wails as the battle axe is hurled out of his hand, his face pouting like his favorite toy has been taken away!

Chak double-moves through two very interesting looking rooms. The first room's stonework suggests a dwarven architect, but the floor and walls display carvings of Tien design. Carvings of swimming carp cover the western wall. The eastern wall carving depicts a katana over the sun.

On the northern wall is a carving of two Minkai elven women standing before funerary pyre. The floor boasts the carving of an imperial sky dragon.

The second room is an alcove with a statue of a tien dragon.

Meanwhile, Andrietta raises arms against Blue, but her heart isn’t in the attack. She misses. Then Stali fails to tumble past Blue, but still manages to attack the disarmed orc for seven damage.

ORDER: Sarano, Chak, Vralk, Hikaru, Andrietta, Gallako, Stali, Blue Archer (-40), Red Archer (laughing, hysterically, -14)

Gallako and Vralk are up!

It's been most of a day since I started this round, so I'm going to delay Vralk and Gallako since I don't have a "Bot Me!" spoiler for either.
__

Red, still giggling on the floor helplessly, attempts a new will save.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Well, there goes his turn...

Meanwhile, Blue attempts to use acrobatics to tumble away from Stali and Andrietta and flee.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Failing it, he just runs.

This will provoke as he does. Stali and Andrietta, take your best shot before I move his mini! If you miss your AoO, roll me a charge under a spoiler.

ORDER: Sarano, Chak, Vralk (2 turns), Hikaru, Andrietta+AoO, Gallako (2 turns), Stali+AoO, Blue Archer (-40), Red Archer (laughing, hysterically, -14)

Everyone's up!

Hikaru scowls, not liking the idea of attacking a seemingly helpless opponent... "Get up and fight, you laughing fool!"

He strikes at him anyway...

to hit: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 = 27
dmg if hits: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13

Stali strikes at the fleeing orc.

Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, flag + inspire: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 16
Damage, flag + inspire: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Chak moves into a flanking position with Hikaru as he draws his nodachi before slicing at the prone orc.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 4 - 2 = 19 inspire+flank+prone-power attack

Damage: 1d10 + 5 + 1 + 2 + 6 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + 2 + 6 + (3, 6) + 2 = 27 instpire+power attack+sneak+studied target

fixed attack and damage bonuses

Sorry, I think I mentioned that I was going to be away for most of the weekend

Gallako will stop singing and just keep waving his flag. Time to save some rounds of performance.

On the off chance that they are 4th level or lower, I'll cast daze (Will save DC 16) on the fleeing one

Are you lot done in there yet? I'm bored out here. Coming in"

Vralk flies in

Struggling to carry the weight of this battleaxe in her free hand, looking from the axe to the torch to the enemies fleeing.

She'll drop the battleaxe, letting it clatter dangerously to her feet, raising her torch above her head, "Don't let them escape, but. . maybe don't kill them either. . ."

She'll run back to the entrance and grab her wand she dropped earlier.

Andrietta nods appreciatively at Sarano's efforts to resolve this with a minimum of bloodshed, and lashes out at the fleeing orc once more.

MWK Cold Iron Katana(Inspire Courage, Flagbearer, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 19

Damage(Inspire Courage, Flagbearer, Power Attack): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 16

She will not swing if the orc has already fallen from Stali's attack.

Hikaru hits Red, as does Chak's devastating attack. Though bleeding out, Red continues to laugh, his orc ferocity keeping him still conscious.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Red finally makes his will save, but before he can move and do anything about it he finally falls unconscious!

Stali's attack of opportunity misses Blue, but Andrietta's attack hits.

Blue runs... and then falls over, unconscious and bleeding before either Stali or Andrietta can charge him.

--COMBAT OVER--

Neither is dead yet. Are you saving them, despite themselves? What do you do?

Hikaru lofts a brow but does nothing to save the red orc, as he's no healer, but he'll not stop someone who does want to save him.

"Poor blighter laughed himself to death... "

The grandmother heads over to Blue, who seemed to be at least marginally the more sensible of the two, and attempts to patch him up.

Heal Check(Stabilize: DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

"Sara, dear, check on the other one, would you?"

Chak wipes his blade and sheathes it and he steps over the unconscious orc to rejoin his allies.

There were some Tien carvings, figures and designs on the walls of the room a circled through, but the construction, style and method of the room itself was clearly, obviously and unquestionably dwarven.

Stali checks the blue orc for equipment. Looking over at the other one, he mentions "If we are to get any information we might want to save that one. He was more talkative. This one kept shutting him up."

Looking towards Chak, he says "That sounds like the type of findings Shevar wanted us to investigate."

Sarano will run forward pulling out her dress kit to tend to the orcs wounds.

Heal: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22 well. . .he is stabilized at least

"What are we gonna do with them?"

"Bake them into a Pie? Do orcs taste good? Never tried orc pie before!"

"Probably shouldn't do that, Vralk. For reasons that I'll never understand, most people seem to think eating dead people is unacceptable. So, better to not eat perfectly good carrion rather than upset their sensibilities.

I don't really care what happens to the Orcs myself. If you want to promise to let them live in exchange for information, I'm fine with that"

Looking directly at Vralk, Stali reminds him "We don't eat sentient creatures."

Looking over at Sarano, he says "Catch and release? I'm not sure." Looking down at the two orcs, he muses "They were more scared of this Shirish than anything else."

The team stablizes both orcs and searches their bodies. They notice that both are surprisingly well-dressed for orcs, and have a symbol of a red dragon on their sleeves. They also appear to have been well fed, healthy and provided with decent equipment.

On them you find:

• +1 flaming arrows (4),
  
• potions of cure moderate wounds (2)
  
• tanglefoot bags (2);
  
• +1 studded leather (2)
  
• +1 composite shortbow (2)
  
• arrows (51),
  
• mwk battleaxe (2)
  
• 112 gp

Do you tie them up? Put them anywhere in particular?

Stepping into the Tien-decorated rooms that Chak ran through, you notice a draconic theme to both.

The small acove has a graceful tien-style statue of a dragon. The larger room has a dragon carved into the floor, and a person-sized pile of stones in one corner, with a glowing and broken katana held to one wall with pitons.

Feel free to roll the knowledge check from the earlier post I linked to, as well as to read once again the full description of the wall carvings. I took the liberty of moving your characters into this room so that you could look at the map and immediately see where you are.

"Looks like a funerary cairn... perhaps the body we seek is below it. We should, if that's what's there, take it and the sword back with us."

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

The grandmother will finish stabilizing the orcs and failing anyone else doing so restrain them against each other. Given how they were fighting with each other, it is unlikely that they will be able to escape given that.

She'll give a point to the carp on the walls and nod sagely before going... heavily formal.

Upon seeing the burial room with the depictions of Shizuru she takes a knee in front of the carvings, bowing slightly with her stave held horizontally in front of her.

"Oh Empress of Heaven, whose radiance guides the sun with honor, allowing ancestors to see their proper rest and who has shone her blessing upon the Tengu, please forgive our trespass.

We mean no harm to your fallen child, but we would like to take her home, and wish to see things put to proper rest."

There will be a slight headtilt towards the general direction of the orcs that have been subdued.

"There are those who hold a symbol that is not yours nearby. Do you need us to restore this place to glory befitting Your name, or would returning your child home be more appropriate?

If a sacrifice is required to free the fallen blade, I can only offer my own, but I would do so willingly given a sign."

Puzzled, Stali watches as Andrietta performs her little ceremony. He stands well out of the way of anything she is doing.

What is this all about? Well, guess I just stand to the side and make sure I don't get in the way...at least I'm not the only one that doesn't understand. It seems Hiraku also isn't familiar with these carvings.

Once the ceremony is done, he asks "Would anyone mind if I drank one of the curative potions we found on the orcs?"

I ❤ Andrietta here.
___

___

Those who made the previous religion check to identify Shizuru may add a +2 circumstance bonus on the first check here.

___

Do any of you check the stones to see if it is in fact a cairn?

Hikaru will check the stones, moving as few as possible to look beneath them, while Grandmother prays.

"Thank You, Imperial Majesty."

The grandmother slowly gets up, using her quarterstaff for a bit of support.

K: Religion(+2 for Shizuru Lore): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 = 15

K: Religion(Lastwall): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"The Empress of Heaven, also known as 'Shi Zu Ru' wishes Her child brought home, but there's also a consideration for the dwarves what laid her to rest here.

In addition to bringing her home, there's something more, but I am not quite sure what it is. We definitely need to explore this place and take plenty of notes so that the dwarves can come here someday and reclaim it, and the more we learn, the more we respect all parties involved in this mission."

Local (Shizuru): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Local (Lastwall): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

There are several ways to handle, approach and resolve this and they are not entirely contradictory, divergent or conflicting.

In Lastwall, tradition is to cremate the entire body except for the skull. The name and dates of birth and death are carved, etched, and engraved into the skull which is then placed in The Ossuaries of the Fallen in Vigil.

Ninja'ed by Chak!

Kn: Local, Burial Rites Shizuru: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Kn: Local, Burial Rites for Lastwall Heroes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Stali digs in his pack and pulls out some papers. As he is doing this, Chak recites the proper procedure from memory. Stali is nodding agreement as Chak speaks.

"That matches the information I have! I happened across a bard that mentioned the rites."

"Well, perhaps we can cover both bases by performing the cremation and paying for a skull-shaped construction to hold the ashes for Lastwall's part, as they were effectively part of the fallen warrior's family, then?" Andrietta offers hopefully, then looks to the rest of the facility. "Doesn't change the fact we need to check out the rest of this place, after all, what kind of Pathfinders would we be if we didn't? Also, Stali, dear? Could you take a look at the rock pile to make sure it's not going to kill us fiddling around with it, please?"

Could we not cremate all but, except and withholding the skull at midday, noon and high sun, and then distribute the ashes and engrave the skull?

Listening intently to the philosophies being tossed back and forth realizing none of it is for her but acknowledging the beauty of belonging that comes with such burial rites.

"Indeed, we really should explore the rest of this place and if possible convince the big orc lady to leave this place. . in peace if possible,"

Stali goes over to the cairn and verifies that no one has added a nasty surprise to it.

Perception, traps: 10 + 12 + 2 = 24
Again: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 = 27
One more time: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 2 = 18

just so you know, Hikaru was already removing stones from the cairn and examining the contents while Grandmother was praying... see above at this post

I can't believe that TENGU actually CARE that much about human burial practices. Its all silly nonsense anyway. Still, I'll just keep quiet about it. Not worth the hassle.

"While I'm quite willing to try and deal peacefully I'm not optimistic that it will work. Still, definitely worth a try"

"I wouldn't be particularly good with it, but if nobody else wants the bows I wouldn't mind taking one of them"

"Mine. This is MINE!" Vralk calls out as he flies down and grabs a Tanglefoot Bag

If anybody else wants it please just take it. Vralk is greedy, not me! :-)

remember encumbrance... tanglefoot bags weight like 4 or 5 lbs ea or something like that

The cairn is not trapped, and it is in fact a cairn. There is a woman's skeleton under the rocks.

(For those of you who remember the portrait of the three samurai [SLIDE FOUR], her armor matches the same patterns of that of the sister on the right.)

Is there anything you wish to do in this room before moving on? If you are moving on, which way do you wish to go in your explorations?

Stali examines the area around the cairn.

"Interesting! Who would have left those there?" he asks, pointing to a set of six scales.

Feel free to read the spoiler above.

"Interesting, I don't know, but perhaps we should bring them along, so they can be left with the skull in the ossuary, if that's allowed... or returned to her family if there is such remaining."

Looking around, Stali asks "Does anyone know what sort of creature the scales are from? Is there any significance to the flower shape?"

You can go right or south in your explorations. Do you wish to choose the direction, or shall I roll for it?

survival dc 15: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"I don't know a lot about such things, but I can see the scales are reptilian, as opposed to fish I guess, and they were clearly placed in this pattern. Also, look here... reptile footprints as well.. perhaps there are reptiles here who revere the deceased and care for the gravesite."

"Reptile? What sort of reptile would have scales that big?" Stali ponders that a moment.

"So, what are we going to do with the two orcs we captured? My inclination would be to question them and give them a chance to run but I could be swayed."

Still have the question outstanding of if anyone would mind my drinking one of the two potions found...

no objections - go ahead as far as I'm concerned...

"Stali, you don't look so good... why not use one or both of those potions we found to heal yourself."

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Kn: Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Looking closely at the scales, "Yes, its definitely a reptile not a fish," Picking one up carefully, to examine it closely, "Gods, it came from a dragon, a red dragon, I can't tell the age but, we should tread carefully. . ."

Stali takes on of the two potions from the orcs and uncorks it. With a quick gesture, he dumps the whole thing down his gullet.

"Aaagh! Tastes as bad as I feared!" looking down at the cut he had received, he adds "It is effective, but sometimes I wonder if some people believe medicine only works if it tastes bad!"

CMW potion: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

Looking over to Sarano, he says "Red dragon? Is THAT what caused all those scorch marks?!?!"

But does red dragon teriyaki taste better than stirge blood sausage? That is the question that beg an answer, response and reply.

But I agree, let us leave this for now and finish our exploration, survey and delve.

Shaking her head, "I don't think its right to eat dragon since they are intelligent creatures. . "

"I have to agree with SArano here... dragons might be fearsome, but they are to be revered and respected, not eaten."

Looking in the direction where they left the orcs, Stali asks "What do you think the chances are of us finding out from the two orcs where the dragon lives? I would rather not stumble across such a creature!"